Implement control for tractor-connected implements



R. D. --ACTON Sept. 23, 1952 IMPLEMENT CONTROL FOR TRACTOR-CONNECTED IMFLEMENTS mvm.

Filed Nov. 18, 1946 mm. Wm.

Nw mw Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE 'IIMPLEMENT GONTROL FUR TRACTOR.-

' CONNECTED IMPLEMENTS `vRussel Acton, Chicago, Ill.

Application November .-18, 194.6,.Seria1LNm .7105612 Cl. By-447) 8 Claims, i1

This invention relates `Vto an implement control for tractor .connected implements. `vMore specifically. itrelates to .a mechanism .for manually applying adjusting vpower lfrom a `station on a tractor to an implement viiexibly .connected to` the tractor .in .trail-behind position.

There has .been1a growing trend -.to supply adjusting .means ior tractor drawn .implements which vmay be .controlledirom the operator's rstation .on the tractor. .Due to the fact that .many such Vimplements .are flexibly connected to .a draft .structure .on the tractor .it 'has .been dilcult .to utilize .ordinary make `Alinkages .due V.to `the fact that .thendjustments ,are disrupted by floating .or pivotingvmovement .of lthe .implement with respectto `the tractor. '.Ithas also 'been proposed to .use hydraulic .means .whereby flexible .hoses may transmit the power from the tractor Lto the' implement. .Such `devices V are ,satisfactory `.but require .expensive equipment such ias .a pump and high pressure hoses, particularly when `it is desired to transmit `adjusting power .in .two directions. ,Asimpliiied push-,pull .construction has heen developed utilizing a flexible power transmitting .element included in a flexible conduit. This construction .is disclosed in my cio-pending application 'Serial No. 81,336, Alled July 3, 51945.

,The principal object of the present invention is to provide .manual control means .for .a flexible push-pull power transmitting device. .A more .specific .object 'is 'to provide a ,screw arrangement adjacent an operators station on a tractor whereby power may lbe applied jin *two directions through a jexible vpower transmitting device 'to an Vimplement drawn behind the tractor.

Another object 'is .to provide a manual adapter for a iiexible power transmitting device ordinarily used in connection with a source of power. y

According Ato 'the construction disclosed in my identiiied co-pending application a l'tractor :is supplied with'power operated means for providing reciprocating Apower iin two directions. 'This poweris 'then applied through'a flexible .power transmitting device utilizing a flexible ,cable for transmitting .adjusting ,power iin "two directions to .a 'trailingimp'lemen't `It is iquite 'likely Lthatiif such devices come Linto .wide usescme users may not find it possible to Ibuyan implement .and .use it ,with `their present ltractor which may not .have

a .source o'frreciprocatingfpower thereon. It is therefore.highlydesirable rthat ainanualfadapter beprovided whereby such ma gppwencontrolled mplement .may be used with :anytractor..A Y

:As V disclosed inthe drawings, the rear portion of a conventional tractor is shown, said tractor having rear body portion Ill, -a lfuel tank Il, lat-` erally extending rear axle housings l2, 4.one .of which is visibleJ drive -aXles I 3 projecting from said housings, one of which is visible shown ,in section,V and ltr-action wheels M one of which is shown, the .other being :removed to better show the adjusting construction .of the .invention and its mounting .on the tractor. A steering column l5 is also shown on which a steering wheel LIt is vmounted adjacent an operatorsstation Ilicarried by a supporting structure I8.

A draft structure indicated in its ,entirety b y the reference character I9 is secured-to the axle housing structure I2 extending downwardly at the rear v of the tractor to provide a hitch point for an implement. The implement diagrammatically indicated includes plow bottoms 20 and 2| mounted Yrespectively on beams 22 and 23. Said beams vare connected in a conventional vmanner to a forwardly extending draft structure 24 which is pivotally connected at 25 to the draftstructure I9 on the tractor. A linkage 2B pivotally connected :to th'e'draw bar :structure 24 carries la gauge wheel 21 positioned to accurately gauge the working depth of the plow bottoms 20 and 2l.. A bracket 28 on .the vlinkage 25 is connected by a .link --29 to ;a A`lever 3G pivoted on a bracketl mounted on a vplowdraw .bar structure 2 4.

The lever 3U is pivotally u connected at 32 to .1aiitting 3.3 vsecured to one end of 4a plunger member 4 inounted for reciprocation ina vcylindricalgude Ymember-35. Said guide member is pi-v.- otally supported on a lbracket 36 secured atran upwardlocationon the .draw bar structure 24.

A flexible conduit .3?! is connected to a tting 38 at the forward end of the -member 35. Said conduit serves vas a seat for a flexible power transmitting member 39 slidably mounted therein and adapted to Vbe connected ina vconventional Y manner to the plunger member 34 within lthe cylindrical guide member35.

The .iiexible conduit 13'! is also connected ,at its other Aend to a tting ..40 which has ka reduced head portion il provided with an annular recess y a `clamping member .4S may firmly engage .andv

hold said tting. x'lihe member A5 is firmly fase tened to .the .upper rear portion .of thetractor body i9. ,The clamping member 46 .issecured by;

bolts 41' at y.both vsides as `shown .in one side in The members 45 and 45 are also formed respectively with annular ridges or projections 48 and 49 which are adapted to engage a recess 50 formed in a cylindrical casing 5l. It will be understood that the clamp member 46 securely clamps the fitting 40 and the casing 5| in a substantially dust-tight manner.

The casing 5I has a closed upper end 52 through which a bore 53 extends. A power applying member indicated in its entirety by the reference number 54 has a shoulder portion 55 abutting the inside surface of the upper end 52 of the casing 5l. Said member also has a shaftlike extension 56 of a reduced diameter rotatably extending through the bore 53. An operating lever or crank 51 having a ball 58 formed thereon for easy operation by the hand of the tractor operator is secured by a pin 59 to the projecting end of the extension 56. Within the casing 5l the member 54 has a long threaded extension 60 which is threaded into a sleeve-like member 6I mounted for reciprocation in the casing 5I and held against rotation therein by a pin 62 extending through the wall of the casing 5l into sliding engagement in a slot or recess 63 formed throughout the entire member 6l. It will be understood by rotation of the crank 51 the member 6| may be reciprocated from one end to the other within the casing 5 I.

The flexible power transmitting member 39 is suitably secured to a rod-like extension S4 which projects from the fitting 4i) into the casing 5I. Said extension is threaded into the lower end of the member 6l for movement therewith.

The operation of the power transmitting device constituting applicants invention has been explained in connection with the description of the parts thereof. An operator on the station l1 by reaching down to the crank 51 may accurately adjust the position of the gauge wheel 21 in either direction thereby adjusting the Working depth of the plow. There is no lost motion at any point in the device thereby giving a very accurate and sensitive control within easy reach of the operator. Due to the flexible nature of the conduit 31 and the exible power transmitting element 39 therein the implement may iioat and pivotwith respect to the tractor without in any way affecting to the slightest extent the adjustment of the gauge wheel 2'! relative to the drawV bar structure 24 of the plow.

It is to be understood that applicant has shown and disclosed only a preferred embodiment of his device for transmitting power to implements flexibly connected to tractors and he claims as his invention all modications falling within the Scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. For tractor -implement combinations in which the implement has a movable working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation of the implement, an adjusting device comprising a guide member adapted to be secured to a portion of the tractor-implement combination, a plunger member slidably mounted in said member and adapted to be connected to said movable working member, a bracket structure adapted to be mounted on the tractor, a recessl formed in said bracket member, a clamping member adapted to be secured over said recess, a second guide member to which the other end of the conduit is connected, said guide member and said bracket and cover members having interlocking projections to rigidly secure the guide member, a hollow housing structure having an end portion 4 secured to said bracket by the clamping member in alignment with the guide member, a plunger member mounted in the second guide member, a piston member mounted for reciprocation in the housing structure and held against rotation therewith, said member being secured to the plunger member, an adjusting member extending into the housing structure and being connected by threading to said piston member, said adjusting member being held against axial movement with respect to the housing structure, and crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the plunger member to adjust the implement at will.

2. For tractor-implement combinations in which the implementis floatingly connected to the tractor and has a movable working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation of the implement, an adjusting device comprising a guide member adapted 'to beA secured to the implement, a plunger member slidably mounted-4A in said member and adapted to be connected to clamping member in alignment with the guide. member, a plunger member mounted in the sec-v ond guide member, a piston member mounted for reciprocation in the housing structure and held against rotation therewith, said member being: secured to the plunger member,. an adjusting member extending into the housing structure and being connected by threading to saidpiston member, said adjusting member being held against axial movement with respect to the housing structure, and crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the plunger member to adjust the implement at will.

3. For tractor-implement combinations inv which the implement has a movable working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation of the implement, an adjusting device` comprising a guide member adapted to be pivotally secured to a portion of the tractor-imple- A ment combination, a exible conduit connected to said guide member, a bracket structure adapted to be secured to the tractor implement combination, a second guide member to which thel other end of the conduit is connected, a clamping memberV adapted to rigidly secure said second guide mem.

able working member on the implement and to the piston member in the housing structure, an-

adjusting member extending into the housing structure from the closed-end land being threaded in said piston member, said adjusting member having abutments provided within and outside said housing structure4 to hold the adjusting'l member against axial movement while providing for-zrdtatioa and -a manueller-ank `me'anssecumd*- tofsaid f'adjus ing a-neriiberf'i r rotating-'it infeither Y a thereby reeipreaungfne esule fin" emberfen the e @een ne premete feminine-tiens secured to the implement,aiexiblefcondit -connect'ed-'tosaid gui-delimember, a bracket structure adapted to be mounted on the tractor, a second guide member-to Whichtheotherend of the conduit is connectedia olampingfmember adapted to rigidly secure said second :guidecmemb'erto said bracket structure, a housing structure having an open end 'portion fand-ia fclosedend portion, said open end portion being secured to "said bracket structure, a piston member mounted tfor reciprocation in the housingstruicture andiheld against rota-tion Atherewith,mo, flexible push-pull povverY transmitting Helement within the zflexible conduitfandyadapted to be connected to the move able working member on the implement and to the piston member in the 'housing structure, an adjusting member extending into the housing structure'from the closed end and rbeing threaded in said ,pistonY member, 'said Vadjusting ,.'mefriber havin'gabutmentsprovided within and voutside said housing structure to hold the adjusting member against axial movement while providing for rotation, and a manual crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the cableA in the conduit to adjust the working member on the implement.

5. For tractor-implement combinations in which the implement is iioatingly connected to the tractor and has a movable working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation of the implement, an adjusting device comprising a guide member adapted to be secured to the implement, a plunger member slidably mounted in said member and adapted to be connected to said movable working member, a iiexible conduit connected to said guide member, a, exible element in said conduit secured to said plunger member, a bracket structure adapted to be mounted on the tractor, a recess ,formed in said bracket member, a clamping member adapted to be secured over said recess, a second guide member to which the other end of the conduit is connected, said guide member and said bracket and cover members having interlocking projections to rigidly secure the guide member, a hollow housing structure having an end portion secured to said bracket by the clamping member in alignment with the guide member, a plunger member mounted in the second guide member and secured to the flexible member therein, a piston member mounted for reciprocation in the housing structure and held against rotation therewith, said member being secured to the plunger member, an adjusting member extending into the housing structure and being connected by threading to said piston member, said adjusting member being held against axial movement with respect to the housing structure, and crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the cable in vthe conduit to adjust the implement at will.

membertifereen @reqiiiringmfdjustnrentfduring mi* eration Aof the implement, anadjusting' .device .comprising-1a' upporting .structure f'secured lt'ofa: portieri oi the'tractor amplement combination, :a: f gu'ilemeiiibereadaptedto be ipivotally "secured to said structure, `aiplungermember Sslidablymounteed in said guide member, fsai'd plunger member bemg '-al-'apted to be' c'dnnec't'ed "to fthe' Workingv member of the implement, aiiexible conduit se' cured to said guide memberja bracket :structure adapted to'beimeuntedion the itractor, y a generally semi-'cylindrical vrecess fiformed fin fsaid lbracket' open rend portion interloked 'in said recesses'fin the ibracket member fand fits -c'over 'fto irigi'dlysecure said housing structure against .axial movement, fa plunger Amember mountedinfsaid second g-iiide Lmember,said vconduit being constructed ito` coniine a pressure transmitting lmedi-um fior transm'itting apressu-I'e from fone-plunger lmerriber to the ither, fa piston member Amounted -rfor "reciprocation vin the h'ou's'ing structure and `held lagainst rotation therewith, saidmem'ber 'being secured :ttfE

the last named plunger member, an adjusting member extending into the housing structure and being threaded in said piston member, the adjusting member having abutments provided within and outside said housing structure to hold said member against axial movement While providing for its rotation, and crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the plunger members to adjust the movable implement member at will.

'7. For tractor-implement combinations in which the implement is floatingly connected to the tractor and has a movable Working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation of the implement, an adjusting device comprising a supporting structure secured to the implement, a guide member adapted to be pivotally secured to said structure, a plunger member slidably mounted in said guide member, said plunger member being adapted to be connected to the working member of the implement, a flexible conduit secured to said guide member, a exible element in said conduit secured to said plunger member, a bracket structure adapted to be mounted on the tractor, a generally semi-cylindrical recess formed in said bracket member, a clamping member adapted to be secured over said recess, said member having a mating generally semi-cylindrical recess, a second guide member to which the other end of the conduit is connected, said guide member and said bracket and cover members having interlocking projections to rigidly secure said guide member and to hold it against movement in an axial direction, a hollow housing structure having an open end portion interlocked in said recesses in the bracket member and its cover to rigidly secure said housing structure against axial movement, a plunger member mounted in said second guide member and secured to the flexible member therein, a piston member mounted for reciprocation in the housing structure and .held against rotation therewith, said member being se-` cured to the last named plunger member, an

adjusting member extending into the housingv structure and being threaded in said piston mem-v b er, the adjusting member having abutments provided within and outside said housing structure to hold said member against axial movement while providing for its rotation, and crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotating it in either direction and thereby reciprocating the cable in the conduit to adjust the movable implement member at will.

8. For tractor-implement combinations in which the implement has a movable Working member thereon requiring adjustment during operation off the implement, an adjusting device comprising a-guide member adapted to be pivotally secured to a member of the tractor-implement combination, a iiexible conduit connected to said guide member, a bracket structure adapted to be secured to a member of the tractor-implement combination, a second guide member to which the other end of the conduit is connected, a clamping member adapted to rigidly secure said second guide member to said bracket structure, a housing structure having an openend portion and a closed end portion, said open end portion being secured to said bracket structure, a piston member mounted for reciproeation in the housing structure and held against rotation therewith, a exible push-pull power transmitting element Within the flexible conduit and adapted to be connected to the movable working member on the implement and to the piston member in the howsing structure. an adjusting member extending into the housing structure from the closed end and being threaded in said piston member, said adjusting member having abutments provided Within and outside said housing structure to hold the adjusting member against axia1 movement while providing for rotation, and a manual crank means secured to said adjusting member for rotation in either direction to thereby reciprocate the cable in the conduit to adjust the working member on the implement.

f RUSSEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,439 Duryea. Sept. 9, 1913 1,835,631 Bradley Dec. 8, 1931 1,925,306 Dean Sept. 5, 1933 2,287,479 Kelsey June 23, 1942 2,410,918 Acton Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 108,038 Australia July 19, 1939 95,871 Austria Jan. 25, 1924 

